The Mayor and Board of Commissioners for the Town of Blowing Rock met in special called session on Tuesday, November 25, 2003 at 4:00 p.m. Present were Mayor J. B. Lawrence, Commissioners Barbara Ball, Keith Tester, Rita Wiseman, and David Wray. Commissioner Terry Lentz was out of town and could not attend. Also present were Town Manager Scott Hildebran, Town Attorney Allen Moseley, and Town Clerk Barbara Beach. Other staff members attending were Town Engineer Marion Rothrock, Interim Recreation Director Jamie Saitta, and Director of Public Works Johnny Lentz.

Mr. Hildebran announced that he has appointed Jamie Saitta as the Director of the Parks and Recreation Department.

Mr. Hildebran also announced that with the retirement of Gail Coffey at the end of January, Sonya Long has been selected to move from the Planning Department to the position of Utility Billing Coordinator. Police Officer Sherrie Pitts will be transferred to the Planning Department to fill the vacant position.

Mrs. Beach reported to Council of the necessity to amend the budget for the following line items. A budget amendment is needed to fund the China Creek property purchase. The town received a Clean Water grant in the amount of $201,000. In conformity with prior Council direction, the balance of $234,872.53 will be taken from fund balance and will be paid back from future year(s) budgets. Shown below is the proposed budget amendment for this.

DEBIT CREDIT

10-4260-500 Public Buildings Capital $234,872.53

10-3400-399 Fund Balance $234,872.53

Donations. The Police Department received a donation in the amount of $2,000 from the Blowing Rock Community Foundation. The line item for Donations should be credited to recognize this additional revenue and the expenditure line item debited to allocate the money for use in the department.

10-3400-358 Donations $2,000

10-4310-500 Police Dept. Capital Outlay $ 2,000

Ms. Wiseman moved that the budget amendments be approved as presented. Mr. Wray seconded the motion, and all members voted in favor of the motion.

Mr. Hildebran advised Council that he had met with Blue Ridge Parkway Superintendent Dan Brown to discuss the future land exchange of the China Creek property for the Town water reservoir. Mr. Brown recommended that the current reservoir be permitted prior to the exchange in order to comply with federal regulations. He also advised that the Town must have a comprehensive environmental impact assessment completed prior to the exchange, which will cost up to $100,000. He does not expect there will be any federal funds to assist in this expense. Mr. Brown also revealed that he expects the Park Service will want to charge the Town for water rights. Council members suggested that our local congressional representatives be contacted for assistance in this matter. Members agreed that Mayor Lawrence and Commissioners Lentz and Tester be designated to represent the Town in these discussions. They asked that Mr. Hildebran contact congressional offices to request meetings in early January.

Mr. Hildebran requested Council approval of a meeting with the Mayor and Council of the Town of Boone for early January to negotiate initial issues related to possible connection to the Boone water lines. Council members agreed to meet with representatives of the Town of Boone at a dinner meeting in January.

Mr. Hildebran advised Council that a recent courtesy safety inspection provided by the League of Municipalities addressed the need for construction of a firewall to separate the Emergency Services living quarters from the truck bay area in the Rescue Squad Building. Bids obtained for the construction are in the range of $10,000. Mr. Hildebran suggested using Public Works employee labor to construct the wall, and funding the cost of materials from monies set aside in the Emergency Services Capital Reserve fund. Only the electrical work will need to be sublet. Council agreed by consensus to approve this action.

The Public Works department has obtained bids for the purchase of a dump truck. Monies for the purchase were included in the 2003-2004 budget. The bids are as follows:

Bids include cost for a bed and snowplow. Staff recommends award to Boone Ford Lincoln Mercury, Inc. Mrs. Beach announced that staff expects to have bids for financing at the January meeting of Council for approval of a financing package for all the equipment that was authorized by the fiscal year 2003-2004 budget. Upon motion of Mr. Wray, second by Mrs. Ball, Council voted unanimously to accept the bid of Boone Ford Lincoln Mercury.

Mrs. Beach reported that the Town calendar has been sent to the printers and that the cost is approximately $6,000 for a run of 1,000 calendars. She asked for direction from Council whether they preferred to charge a minimal fee for the calendar to recoup some of the cost or continue to provide it free of charge. Ms. Wiseman made motion that the Town not charge for the calendar this year and urge the TDA to fund the 2005 calendar from occupancy tax revenue. Mrs. Ball seconded the motion, and all members voted in favor of the motion.

Mr. Wray moved that Council convene in closed session to discuss real property acquisition by authority of NCGS 143-318.11(a)5 and to consult with the town attorney under authority of NCGS 143-318.11(a)3. Mrs. Ball seconded the motion, and it was unanimously approved.

Upon reconvening in open session, there was no further business, and by motion of Mr. Wray, second by Mrs. Ball, the meeting was adjourned at 5:30 p.m.

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Mayor J. B. Lawrence

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Barbara G. Beach, Town Clerk